Studio Details

Location
Venice, Italy

Date
30 June-11 July, 2025

Studio Directors in Venice
Michele Pasca di Magliano (Director, Zaha Hadid Architects)
Clemens Lindner (Designer, Zaha Hadid Architects)

Studio Project
Inhabitable Bridge with mixed use program inc. residential, commercial and communal.

Field Trips and Site Visits
Venini Glass Factory (Murano Island)
Other site visits in Venice to be announced.

Studio Project

This studio invites participants to reimagine Venice’s bridges as dynamic, inhabitable structures that honour the city’s rich architectural legacy while addressing contemporary urban challenges. By integrating residential and communal spaces into bridge designs, we aim to enhance urban connectivity and provide innovative solutions to Venice’s spatial constraints.

Venetian Bridges: Significance and Stories
Venice’s intricate network of over 400 bridges is integral to its identity, each serving as a testament to the city’s engineering prowess and cultural narratives. Historically, these bridges were not merely functional crossings but vibrant social spaces, often lined with shops and stalls. The Rialto Bridge, for instance, has been a central commercial hub since the late 16th century, while the Bridge of Sighs embodies tales of justice and lament. Lesser-known bridges also have intriguing histories: Ponte dei Pugni (Bridge of Fists) was once a venue for rival clans to settle disputes through fistfights; Ponte delle Tette (Bridge of Breasts) in the red-light district gained its name from prostitutes attracting clients by exposing themselves; Ponte del Diavolo (Devil’s Bridge) on Torcello Island is steeped in legend, supposedly built overnight by the devil; and Ponte Storto (Crooked Bridge) uniquely connects misaligned streets. These stories highlight how bridges have been vibrant stages for human interaction, commerce, and conflict.

Inhabitable Bridges: Historical Context and Modern Interpretations
The concept of inhabitable bridges is deeply rooted in architectural history. Florence’s Ponte Vecchio, dating back to the 14th century, exemplifies multifunctional bridge design with shops spanning the Arno River. In Venice, the Rialto Bridge historically blended commerce with connectivity, while medieval London’s London Bridge combined residences with trade. Modern interpretations include Zaha Hadid’s 1996 proposal for a habitable bridge over the Thames, envisioning a multifunctional structure of studios, offices, homes, and public walkways.

Outcomes
By the studio’s conclusion, participants will present comprehensive habitable bridge designs that celebrate Venice’s architectural heritage, enhance urban liveability through multifunctional spaces, and emphasize structural ingenuity, precision fabrication, and environmental responsiveness. Through this exploration, the studio aims to redefine the role of bridges in Venice, transforming them into living entities that bridge past and future, tradition and innovation.

Zaha Hadid Architects work at all scales and in all sectors, creating transformative cultural, corporate, residential and other spaces that work in synchronicity with their surroundings.

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Internships

Students accepted into the Zaha Hadid Architects Studio at Venice Studio may be considered for available internship or job opportunities at Zaha Hadid Architects. Selection of candidates is at the sole discretion of the studio director and Zaha Hadid Architects. Places are not guaranteed.

Program Information

Learn more about the program, inc., the application process and pricing here →